to all my friends who have daughters this is a must read. And i will def. archive this incase God blesses us, me, with a daughter of my own. I think raising boys and girls is a very different task. And although i wouldn't go as far to say that one is more difficult than the other i will say, raising a girl to grow and love herself for who she is in our society is a big challenge.
For those of you who have had the "luxury" of never feeling different, out of place, made fun of, the luxury of always pretty much fitting in, being "normal" ( and i know wonderful, kind people who have had this luxury, so its not an insult just something you wouldn't understand if you haven't "been there done that")then you might not get as much of a "fill-up" as I did from this post.
If i could tell my 13 year old self something here is what comes to mind:
"always listen to your gut, that feeling at the pit of your stomach. its always right and always steers you in the right direction, even its not the popular choice. The right choice isn't usually the most popular one but you will always be steered on a good path if you listen to your gut."
"your height doesn't define you" even if people want to ridicule or if society sets the standard of beautiful:: as long and lean.
"you will actually LOVE your curves one day, yes, even your tush. and you husband will love them more than you do"
" your upper lip hair" you just wax it off no biggie
"you will come to love the fact that your mom made your clothes" looking back at pictures makes your heart fill with joy knowing your mom pretty much sewed every outfit you wore" and as you get older you realize "i don't want to be like everyone else i want to be me"
"so you never had the name brands" but you always and have always had so many loving, friends obviously, what you wore didn't matter and now you LOVE bargain shopping, especially at the Guild.
"you will never be the prettiest, the tallest, the thinnest, the best smile, the prettiest teeth, the funniest, the most popular, but you will always be you: To Thine Own Self be True. And that will make the you the strongest, happiest and wisest. (pretty sure wisest isn't a word...)
Since i don't have a girl i instantly think of my two beautiful nieces, Ella + Lily. I love them with all i have and i want to be an Aunt that they can look up to, to set an example of loving things about myself even when society says differently. I hope they see the confidence glow within me and in return lit in themselves. they are beautiful girls whose confidence now is at FULL SPEED. Ella is 5 and Lily is 7months and they only know confidence. Its our job as Mommas, Aunts, Grandma's , + Friends to keep this Confidence growing. We must fuel their confidence by example. These precious girls who love themselves now, will only begin to notice, take note of their "differences" once they step out into this big, cruel world. When someone at school makes a comment about clothes, or her hair, or her body shape or you name it. OR maybe they will be one of those who live in "luxury" and if thats the case I pray they learn humility, kindness and empathy towards others.
To all my Girl's: my sister, my momma, my other momma, my grami, my sisterinlaws, my nieces,my friends, my friend's daughers:: Rock whatcha got!!!
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